Quotes about match-fixing in soccer

Soccer, or football as it is known in most of the world, is being plagued by match-fixing linked to emboldened criminal gangs or corrupt officials. Here are some comments on the global problem:

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"Football is in a disastrous state. ... Fixing of matches for criminal gambling fraud purposes is absolutely endemic worldwide ... arrogantly happening daily"—Chris Eaton, director of sport integrity at the International Centre for Sport Security.

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"It sounds like a fairy tale or a novel. It's absolute craziness, something unbelievable—but it's all true"—Italian prosecutor Roberto Di Martino on a case in which an Italian goalkeeper under pressure to rig a game drugged five of his teammates so they would play badly.

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"Twenty years of hard work I destroyed in just one month"—Mario Cizmek, a Croatian player convicted of match-fixing.

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"For my cooperation, he offered me 200,000 euros ($261,500). ... I said no because my immediate thoughts were of my wife, son and daughter. How could I look them in the eye if I said yes? What kind of husband and father would I be?"—Former Italian player Simone Farina, who is now a FIFA ambassador for fair play.

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"The widespread belief in Turkey is that at some time or another, each and every team has attempted to fix games"—Turkish sports commentator Bagis Erten.